Writing instrument



' Feb. 24, 1948. R. T. WING WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed March 23, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l F65. 24v 1948. R. T. wm 2,436,763

WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed March 23, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fan 24 1 *m m WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed March 25, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1'3 55/ v a iww Patented Feb. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRITING INSTRUMENT Russell T. Wing, Excelsior, Minn.

Application March 23, 1946, Serial No. 656,627

13 Claims.

This invention relates generally to quick-detachable coupling devices and has to do more particularly with devices of that character which are especially well adapted for use on fountain pens and the like.

The principal object of my invention is to pro- Still another object is to provide a positive coupling device for fountain pens and the like which is dependable and durable and yet capable of being manufactured economically.

A further object is to provide, in combination with my positive coupling device, spring biasing means operative to neutralize any looseness which might otherwise exist in the coupling device and which is further effective, as applied to a fountain pen, to aid in separating the cap from the pen when the coupling is released,

An additional object is to provide in a fountain pen, in combination with my positive coupling device an axially spring-pressed sealing cap which functions to enclose the writing nib and thus prevent or diminish drying out of the nib, while at the same time operating to neutralize all looseness in the coupling device and to aid in separating the cap from the pen when the coupling is released.

My new coupling device, as applied to a fountain pen, involves an annular shoulder encircling the pen barrel and adapted to latchingly engage one ormore (preferably several) spring fingers carried by the cap and operative to sna into engagement with said shoulder when the cap is put on-the cap being thus positively secured to .the pen, Formed adjacent said shoulder and corresponding numerically to the spring fingers are one or more (generally several) cam surfaces which are effective, when the cap is rotated a few degrees, to lift the spring fingers out of the path of said shoulder so that the cap can thereupon be withdrawn from the barrel. In order to en sure that the spring fingers will invariably be engaged by the cam surfaces and thus lifted out of the path of the shoulder, in response to an appropriate rotation of the pen cap, it is desirable to spring-bias the cap in the direction in which it is withdrawn from the pen; and in so doing I not only ensure that a disconnecting manipulation will always be effective, but I also facilitate the cap removal operation by making it unnecessary for the pen user to apply tension to the cap when he is rotating it to release the coupling. At the same time, the aforementioned spring bias is eifective to continuously retain the spring fingers in contact with the shoulder-thus eliminating any unbecoming axial play which might otherwise result from even a small amount of clearance between the ends of the spring fingers and the shoulder. The spring bias is preferably applied through the medium of the aforementioned sealing cap.

For purposes of illustration only, I have shown in the accompanying drawing one of the preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is to be understood that many modifications and alternative forms are possible within the scope of my inventive concept.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of a fountain pen and receptacle with a detachable coupling in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view;

Fig. 3. is a detailed view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing the construction of the spring sleeve-the pen being omitted from this view;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken along line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section at line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section identical with Fig. 6 except that it shows the spring fingers lifted out of the groove;

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 9 but showing the barrel of the pen rotated thirty degrees with reference to the spring fingers;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section similar to Figs. 9 and 10, showing the spring fingers in the course of being lifted out of the groove; and

Fig. 12 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 11, showing the completion of the unlatching operation which is shown partially completed in Fig. 11.

The device of Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, is shown in full in Fig. 1 and comprises an elongate cup-like receptacle or carrier l and a fountain pen 2 shown inserted in the receptacle with the point down. Receptacle I is intended to be carried in the pocket of a vest or coat, as fountain pens are usually carried; and it is provided with a pocket clip 3, which forms the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 656,628, filed March 23'; 1946.".

The rear end of the pen projects out-*ofthe-re oeptacle, as shown in Fig. 1, and it is removably secured in the receptacle by means of a novel latching means which forms the subject. matter. of the instant application and will presently be described.

Mounted within the lower. endof receptacle- I. is an inner cap 4 which is designed't'o receive the front end of the pen, as shown in Fig. 1; andztoi' form a seal against excessive ink evaporation. A coil spring 5- continuously, urges cantandpen 2 upwardly.v

When pen. 2 is. inserted. in. receptacleg'l, and pushed. down against: the pressure of; spring. 5, the latching means. about-to bedesoribed auto,- matically locks the. penin the, receptacle. so that it. cannot be shaken. 1.00se.. But, the penisle..- leasable. fromthe latching means; by:. manually rotating it a few. degrees about-its. longitudinal axis.

There is. formed .in. thebarrel of. the pen..an external circumferential groove .Bwhichisadapted to lat'chinglyengagea painof oppositely disposed spring fingers 1 and 8, the free ends of which: are bent inwardlytoengage thG:r% I'-OOV8.. Finger-s 1 and 8. are integral. parts of a-.-.spring sheet. metal sleeve, the form. oiv which. is .best shownin Figs. 2.and.4. Said sleeve. is pressed. into. the bore of receptacle l andis anchoredthereon. bymeans of an outwardly projecting lug 9a.,whichextends through a slot-like opening-in the wallofjreeep- 40' tacle. l..- The. springfingers are; of. course, biased inwardly. so. that, they. will snapdnto: groove. 6; and any desired number. of. such. fingers. may be employed. I find that.tw.o.are generally sufiicient andthatone will answer thepurpose... In order to release the pen for withdrawal fromthereeeptacle-it .is necessary to alift, the ends? of the spring fingers out of groove 6; and to efiectlt-hat end]; provideeam meanswhich. act on the spring fingersin response to manual rotation oithe. pen. With the specific latching. device. of Figs. 177., the pen can be released only by. rotationthereofv in a. given direction; but with. the. alternative arrangement of'Figs. 8-12, the pen is. releasable in response. to rotation in. either, direction;

' Groove 6'(see Fig. 3) is defined on its rear. or upper. side. by. a..continuous,.shoulder. l0, and on its. front or. bottom side by ashoulder. of..saw.- tooth form or what may appropriatelybereferred to as. a. series, of..shoulder.s. Ha.v to. l.l'f.;,inclusive, each extending at a small angle to amlanewhich is normal. tothe longitudinalaxis 013 the. pen. Extending from the bottom of" groove Bite the 4 to a position where they no longer lie in the path of the saw-tooth shoulder-whereupon the pen will be lifted by spring 5 to such an extent that groove 6 is out of registration with the ends of the spring fingers. The pen can then be lifted out of the receptacle, or it can be relatched by pushing down thereon.

The shoulder l0 functions only as a stop for limiting the downward movement: of: the pen. It'can be eliminated withoutdetracting from the invention.

outer surface. of thepen.b.arrel,.at.each. step of the serratedfishouldera, are; sloping surfaces !.2a to l 2f.' These are shown. to, best. advantage. in Figs. 6i and '7.

Since spring 5, continuously pushes. upwardly on the pen, itjwilllbe apparent that" the serrated frontor lower shoulder of'groove fi'always bears against the. ends of'the. sprlngfingers whenthese are inthe groove; and it willibe evident that ifpen 2' is rotated clockwise, asviewed in Fig. 6, the two spring fingers will. be engaged bytwo offthe "cam surfaces and'will'be lifted out of "the groove 'While it is preferable that the serrated shoulder completely encircle the barrel of the pen, this obviouslyis not essential; and it is not essential that there bemore than one position of rotation at which cam means are provided for lifting the spring-fingers;

Int-healternative embodiment of the invention depicted in Figs. 8 to 12, the pen-holding receptacleor carrier is identified by reference numeral I51 The pen itself is identifiedbymeference'nus meral it. Mounted within the: receptacle. and secured; thereto is .a: spring; sleeve Il" having a pair of oppositely disposed springfingers' l8 and I 9. A circumferential groove, zllisformed" inthe barreiof'the pen for latchingly engaging the inturned ends of said spring fingers: The rear or top side of' groove 29 isdefined-by"acontinuous circumferential shoulder- 21, while the" front" or bottom side of the groove is defined by'twoseries of arcuate shoulders arrangedalternatelyr The membersof one of saidseries-ofshoulders all lie in the transverse plane id-entifiedby reference numeral, 22, in Fig; 8; and the members of this series are identified'by reference numerals 22a to 227, inclusive. Themembers of the other series all lie in the transverse "plane identified by reference numeral 23, in Fig: 8;" and the members of this series are identifiedby reference numerals 23a to 23],inclusive; It will benotedthattransverse planes 22 and 23 are-spaced"apart lengthwiseof thepen.

Shoulders 22a to-22f aregformedby-turning the annular groove 20', whereas shoulders 23a to 231 are formedbymilling the barrel tangentially at angularly spaced pointsto adepth-equal' to the depth of the groove. This results'irr arseries' of tangential bottom surfaces 2 llrto- 24f; inclusive, which operate as cam surfaces'to lift the ends of spring fingers IBand l9 when the pen is rotated in either direction: As in the previously described structure'of Fig. 1, ajspringis provided which eontinuously urgespen I'Bupwardly. Thus, the ends of the springfingers are always-in pressure contact with shoulders of one or'the other of the two above-described'series; In Figs. 8 and 9 -the spring'fingers are shown in alinem'ent with shoulders 22d and 22d",- respective'ly, whereas in Fig; 10 they are shown in: alinement' with'shoulders 23a and 23d." When oriented. as shown in Fig. 10', the ends of the-spring fingers rest upon or 'overlie'cam surfaces H'a'arrdZ' IdZ and if the pen' is then rotated in- 'eitherdirection the. spring fingers will be lifted by-said camsurfaces" out of "the groove to positionswherein they are. clear ofthe' front shoulders; as shownin'Fig. 12. This operation is illustrated in='Fig; 11.. The. pen is thereupon moved upwardly; as" before, to a. position* wherein thespringfingers are outof. registratiorr with thexgroove; Regardless of therotational orientation of the. pen. withrespectto the spring fingers, the latter. will .latchingly. engage a pair of front. shoulders. of one. series. or. the other and can bedisen'gaged therefrom only by rotating the pen until the ends of the spring fingers are lifted by one or another pair of cam surfaces. If the pen is provided with six front shoulders per series, as shown, the maximum rotation required to complete an unlatching operation is 90 degrees. The minimum necessary rotation is 30 degrees, which will obtain if the pen happens to be latched with the spring fingers in alinement with a pair of shoulders in the 23 series.

It will be apparent that a single spring finger would answer the purpose and that more than two may be employed, if desired; and it also will be apparent that the invention could be carried out with one spring finger and only one cam surface and one shoulder of series 23. But it generally is desirable to provide several cam surfaces and several shoulders of the 23 series so that the unlatching operation can always be effected with a relatively small angle of rotation.

I claim:

1. In a writing instrument, a first member, a second member adapted to be detachably coupled to said first member, said members being relatively rotatable about a common axis and separable, when uncoupled, by relative movement lengthwise of said axis, said first member having a shoulder trending circumferentially of said axis, said second member having a spring-pressed element adapted to cooperate with said shoulder to latch said members together axiswise when said members are brought together, said first member having a cam surface adjacent said shoulder which is operative, in response to relative rotation of said members about said axis, to lift said element out of the path of said shoulder whereby to unlatch said members and thus enable separation thereof.

2. In a Writing instrument, a first member, a second member adapted to be detachably coupled to said first member, said members being relatively rotatable about a common axis and separable, when uncoupled, by relative movement lengthwise of said axis, said first member having a continuous series of arcuate shoulders, said series trending circumferentially of said axis, each of said arcuate shoulders extending at a small angle to a plane normal to said axis, each of said shoulders being defined bottomwise by a cam surface, said second member having a springpressed element adapted to cooperate with said shoulders to latch said members together axiswise when said members are brought together, said element being adapted to be acted upon by any of said cam surfaces and to be lifted thereby out of the path of said shoulders in response to relative rotation of said members about said axis.

3. In a writing instrument, a first member, a second member adapted to be detachably coupled to said first member, said members being relatively rotatable about a common axis and separable, when uncoupled, by relative movement lengthwise'of said'axis, one of said members having an arcuate groove, trending circumferentially of said axis, the other of said members having a spring-pressed element adapted to snap into said groove when said members are brought together along said axis, said element being operative, when engaged with said groove, to positively couple said members together, and cam means operative in response to relative rotation of said members about said axis, to lift said element out of said groove, thereby uncoupling said members.

4. In a writing instrument, a first member, a second member adapted to be detachably coupled to said first member, said members being relatively rotatable about a common axis and separable. when uncoupled, by relative movement lengthwise of said axis, the first of said members having an area which is reduced diametrically to form two lengthwise contiguous Shoulders, each trending circumferentially of said axis, said shoulders being mutually displaced lengthwise of said axis, the second of said members having a spring-pressed element which is operative, when said members are brought together along said axis, to assume a postion in latching relation to said shoulders by virtue of which said members are positively coupled together, said first memoer having a cam surface which is operative in response to relative rotation of said members to lift said element to a position wherein it is nonengageable by either of said shoulders during a subsequent separating movement of said memberslengthwise of said axis.

5. In a writing instrument, a cylindrical barrel, a tubular cap adapted to fit telescopically over one end of said barrel, a spring finger carried by said cap, said barrel having an annular peripheral groove operative to receive one end of said spring finger for locking said cap on said barrel, and cam means immediately adjacent said groove, said cam means being operative, in response to rotation of said cap relatively to said barrel, to force said spring finger out of said groove whereby to enable withdrawal of said cap from the barrel.

6. In a writing instrument, a cylindrical barrel, a tubular cap adapted to fit telescopically over one end of said barrel, a spring finger carried by said cap, said barrel having an annular peripheral groove operative to receive one end of said spring finger for automatically IOCkll'lg said cap on said barrel when the cap is applied thereto, and a cam surface provided at one side of said groove and operative, in response to rotation of said cap relatively to said barrel, to disengage said spring finger from said groove whereby to enable withdrawal of said cap from the barrel.

7. In a writing instrument, a cylindrical barrel, a tubular cap adapted to fit telescopically over one end of said barrel, a plurality of spring fingers carried by said cap interiorly thereof and disposed in spaced relation circumferentially of said barrel, said barrel having an annular groove adapted to be engaged by the free ends of said fingers for locking the cap on the barrel, said barrel having a series of circumferentially spaced cam surfaces immediately adjacent the front side of said groove, said cam surfaces each being operative to lift one of said spring fingers, individually, out of said groove in response to a predetermined rotation of said cap relatively to said barrel, and spring means continuously urging said cap toward removal from said barrel.

8. In a writing instrument, a cylindrical barrel having a longitudinal axis, a tubular cap adapted to fit telescopically over one end of said barrel, a plurality of spring fingers carried by said cap interiorly thereof and disposed in spaced relation circumferentially of said barrel, said barrel having continuous circumferential exterior shoulder means adapted to latohingly engage the free ends of said fingers for releasably locking the cap on the barrel, said shoulder means comprising a first series of arcuate shoulders spaced apart circumferentially of the barrel, and a second series of arcuate shoulders likewise spaced apart circumferentially of the barrel and alternating circumferentially with the shoulders of the first series, the shoulders of the first series all being located in a first plane which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, the shoulders of the second series $8.11 being iocated in a second plane which .is transverse :to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, said first .plane being spaced from said second plane lengthwise of said axis andlocated nearer thelfront end of the-barto fit telescopically over one end of said barrel, 2.. "plurality ofspring fingers carried by said cap interiorly thereof and disposed in spaced relation ircumferentially :of said barrel, said fingers extending lengthwise of the-barrel, said barrel having continuouscircumferential exterior shoulder means completely encircling the barrel and adaptedztolatchingly engage the freeends-of said fingers for looking the cap on the barrel, said shoulder means comprising aifirst series of armate shoulders spaced apart .circum'ferentially of the barrel, and a second-series of arcuate shoulders likewise spaced apartcir'cumferentially of .the barrel and alternating circumferentially with the shoulders-of the. firstseries, the shoulders of the firstseries all bein :located :in a first plane which is transversetoathe longitudinal axis of the barrel, the shoulders of the-second-series all being 'located'inasecond plane which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, said first plane being spaced from said second plane lengthwise of said =-axis and located nearer the front end'of the barrel than'iszthe second plane, each shoulder of the first series being bordered bottomwise bya cam surface which extends from the periphery of the "barrel to a. point radially closer to the horizontal axis of the barrel and which is operative :to "engage the free end of one 0f said fingers and lift the same out of the path of said shoulder means in response to a predetermined rotationpf said cap relatively to said barrel, andspring means continuously urging said cap toward removal from said barrel, said spring means beingeffective to bring the 'freeends of saidfingersinto engagea'ble relation to said cam surfaces whenever the cap is rotated asbefore mentioned.

10. A writinginstrument comprisingan elongate barrel having an "external encircling shoulder facing rearwardly of 'the'instrume'nt, a' tubular outer-cap :fitting telescopically over the front end of said barrel and "ermir'cling said shoulder, a plurality "of spring'flngers-carried by and disposed interiorly of said outer cap and spaced circumferentially around said-barrel, each of :said spring fingers "latchingly engaging said shoulder when said outer 'capcis sin place and adapted to the "outer cap :is .applied, cam means adjacent said shoulder and operative in :response to rotation of said outer cap relatively to the barrel to lift said-spring .fingersout of thepath of said shoulder, .an inner=cap mounted .within'said outer cap and adapted to receive the .front end of said barrel telescopically, :and aspring urging said of said barrel and encircling said shoulder, a'

plurality of spring fingers carried by and disposed interiorly of said cap and spaced circumferentially around said barrel, each of said spring fingers latchingly-engagingrsaid shoulder when said cap is in place and adapted to snap into latching engagement-therewith when thecap is applied, cam

.. means associated with .saidshoulder and operative in response torotation of said cap relative to the barrel to lift vsaid spring fingers out of the path of said shoulder, and spring means within said cap operatively engaging the barrel wheninserted therein, whereby to apply a biasing force tending continuously to withdraw the cap from the barrel .and to maintainsaid spring fingers .firm contact with said shoulder.

12. In a fountainpen, a barrel having a pen pointsecured inone end thereof, a cap detachably fitted over one end of thebarrel to conceal and protect said pen point when .the .pen is not in use, interlocking elements on said cap and barrel mutually engageableto-lock the cap-to the barreLspring means to automatically urge said elementsinto interlocking relationship when said cap is axially fitted onto said barrel and a cam element on one of'said cap and'barreloperative to disengage said interlocking elements when saidcap is relatively rotated .on said barrel.

13. .In .a fountain pen, :a barrel member having a pen pointsecured in one end thereof, a cap member detachably fitted over one end of the barrel to conceal and protect said pen point when thepen is.not in use, a spring latch on one of saidmembers, alatching shoulder on the other of sald'members positioned .tobe engaged by said spring latch when :said cap member is axially fitted onto said barrel member, and areleasing cam on said othermember positioned to-engage said spring'latchand moveit out of engagement with said latching shoulder upon relative predetermined =rotati0n of said members.

RUSSELL T. WING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references 'areofirecord in the 'file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,571,363 Barker Feb. 2, 1926 1,921,270 Tait Aug. 8, 1933 

